We just finished another year, and it's easy to feel tired after working hard to complete our goals before the end. As we enter 2013, business blog Inc reminds us to always pursue what's best, regardless of how inconvenient it may seem:

A leader must consistently demonstrate commitment to the shared purpose of the organization. When a leader decides not to pursue a complicated or messy problem, it can easily appear that the leader is simply taking the path of least resistance. Conversely, when a leader embraces an inconvenient challenge, the message is clearly one of devotion to the shared purpose.

You can't do everything, but you can regularly take the harder way out when it's beneficial to everyone around you. While the easy option or the self-serving one might offer some minor instant gratification, everyone benefits more in the long term when you tackle a difficult task well. Easier isn't always better.